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IAS 2024: Church-State Relations

What’s Included in the Fee?

  • RT Airfare & Amtrak Fare

  • Subway, Bus, & Uber/Lyft, Cab Fares

  • Lodging In Washington D.C and New York City

  • Entrance Fees

  • Formal Seminar Days

  • Show at the Kennedy Center

  • Two Broadway Shows

Meals [B/L/D daily] On Travel Days participants pay for one meal.
Participants are also responsible for individual snacks or drinks between meals.

International Affairs Seminar
March 15-23, 2024

It’s an election year. There is no better time to discuss the relationship of participating in a secular society and following the way of Jesus.  How does this show up in our Government’s separation of Church and State (or not)?

IAS is offered to youth in grades 11 and 12.  This study trip focuses on a theme and provides participants with a cohort learning experience visiting Washington D.C. and New York City.  Participants can expect to walk 60-70 total miles during the trip as they traverse the cities visiting museums, Government offices, tourist attractions while learning about the study theme.  Each evening includes a debrief with adults about the experiences of the day.

The trip is limited to 15 youth and a minimum of 10 are needed.  Download the flyer for all the information.  Contact Rev. Michael Davison if you have questions.

Registration Opens August 16

Registration Closes September 29

Click Here to download the Flyer

Cost: $2000 per person

Photos from IAS

2018

2017

What Should I Expect?

Expect to be challenged, to experience information overload, be exhausted, and be energized.

Expect meaningful conversations, laughter, and interesting food.

IAS is a study trip.  Seminar days are primarily classroom experiences with guest speakers that provide information or experiences to teach participants about the topic and prepare them to be a resource for their local congregations.

IAS is a lot of walking! Personal responsibility for your well being, physical and mental, is important to fully experience the trip because it is designed as a group experience.  Like church camp, this trip can create friendships that stay connected into adulthood.

2023-07-27T09:59:07-05:00Jul 27, 2023|Uncategorized, Youth|Comments Off on IAS 2024: Church-State Relations

6 Congregations Receive Reconciliation Grants

Reconciliation-logo_color

Reconcile:
1. to restore, settle, or resolve;
2. to make consistent.(1)

Oklahoma Disciples continue the work of reconciliation through serving our neighbors locally and around the world. The Commission for Faith in Action met in April to review Reconciliation Grant applications for this year.  Faith in Action celebrates providing a total of $9150 in grants to these congregations that applied.

Enid, Central Christina Church ($3400)

  • Enid Welcome Table is a weekly ministry that provides a sit down, served meal on Sunday evenings for food insecure neighbors in Enid.
  • Community Hero Project supports the police, fire fighters, and student pilots at Vance Air Force Base with snack baskets.  The project invites police and fire fighters to interact with congregations and the community outside of emergency situations to build trust.
  • Teen Neurotypical and non-Neurotypical Integration/Socialization will partner teenagers to help the typical teen grow in understanding and acceptance of the non-typical. The non-typical will gain friendship, socialization, and understanding of their community. With the help of adults this program will raise awareness in the community about the needs of non-Neurotypical youth and that Central Christian Church is a welcoming place for everyone.

Enid, Christian Church of the Covenant, Iglesia Christiana El Shaddai, University Place Christian Church, Central Christian Church ($1000)

  • VBS is one of the most important projects in the life of the church each year. Many churches are struggling with having enough volunteers to provide a great quality VBS. In 2022, Disciples in Enid hosted a joint VBS that welcomed 60 children and 40 adult volunteers.  A reconciliation grant supported this work.  This summer, First Presbyterian Church will join the VBS program.  The membership and location of the participating churches is very diverse. University Place Christian is in the east side of Enid – a low-income area with a large African American and Hispanic population.  First Presbyterian is a typical, affluent “downtown church.” Iglesia Cristiana El Shaddai, is a Hispanic church, Central Christian Church and Christian Church of the Covenant are “middle-American” churches experiencing demographic change. Bringing together children, teenagers and adult volunteers from these diverse churches will promote understanding and acceptance and inclusion.

Midwest City, First Christian Church ($2000)

  • The congregation participates in careportal.org, a care-sharing portal connecting people with local opportunities to serve vulnerable children and families in their communities.  It may be rental assistance, transportation assistance, dollars for diapers, clothing, or formula.

Stillwater, First Christian Church ($2000)

  • First Christian Church has worked with ACE (American-Caribbean Experience) in Jamaica for many years.  This year, they are expanding the trip and hosting other congregations (FCC Chandler, FCC El Reno, Central CC Enid, FCC Luther, and Eagle Heights).  and have a group of 50 going on the trip. Groups will work on a variety of projects including tutoring, child sponsorships, VBS, micro-businesses, health and wellness clinics, farming and construction.  Last year one of the little girls at VBS told a member of our mission team “I thought white people were all bad, but you are very kind and loving. I hope you’ll come back again.”

Caminante, a minister supported by the Commission on Faith in Action ($750)

  • Caminante is an ongoing mission priority for the Commission for Faith in Action and the Region.  Funding helps support work with local children and adults to learn skills that can help secure jobs in the tourist industry.  In the past, the Region helped build “homework rooms” that provided space and leaders to help children with their studies.  Covid ceased yearly trips by Oklahoma Disciples, but with as the pandemic ends and an intern from our partners at Global Ministries is in place, yearly trips may begin again.

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1. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, s.v. “reconcile,” accessed May 8, 2023, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reconcile.

2023-05-08T10:26:56-05:00May 8, 2023|Congregations, Faith in Action, Uncategorized|Comments Off on 6 Congregations Receive Reconciliation Grants

Volunteers are the Strength of Church Camp

Thank You Camp Counselors and Directors

We give thanks for these persons that gave their time to our children and youth this summer at church camp.

Chi Rho Co-Directors: Kelley, Bill, and Tara
Chi Rho Staff: Chris, Chuck, Derek, Erin, Jana, Janet, John, Laura, Madi, Paul, Rachael, Sara, Tamra

Discovery Director: Daniel
Discovery Staff: Alysa, Derek, Erin, Jana, Laura, Paul, Sally, Sara, Wendy

CYF Co-Directors: Chris and Michael
CYF Staff: Ashley, Bill, Eula, Gene, Geoff, Ish, Julia, Luke, Madi

Junior Camp Co-Directors: Sally and Paul
Junior Staff: Ben, Colton, Derek, Grace, John, Joshua, Laura, Madi, Matthew, Nicole, Pam, Valerie, Wendy

Though we canceled Mission Camp, we offer our thanks the Director, Tom, for his work on organizing and preparing.

We look forward to summer 2022 when, if Covid-19 is contained, we can expand our church camp program to welcome more campers and new counselors.  Stay connected to information about the Region’s program ministry for children and youth by subscribing to the Intersection or the Regional Round Up!

2021-07-06T10:27:47-05:00Jul 6, 2021|Uncategorized|Comments Off on Volunteers are the Strength of Church Camp
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